On September 21st, we unveiled Europe's Best Workplaces, a celebration of organizations that have harnessed the power of trust to achieve extraordinary success. Trust is not just a buzzword; it's a tangible asset that sets these 150 organizations apart. Let's explore how they've elevated their workplaces to new heights.
Trust is the Key
The Best Workplaces in Europe™ stand out for a multitude of reasons, but one defining factor is their unwavering commitment to their employees. The 150 Best Workplaces in Europe have cultivated company cultures where employees feel valued, heard, and respected. But what truly distinguishes them from the average employer? Their trust scores are nearly double the average.
Great Place To Work® analyzed over 1 million survey responses representing the work experiences of over 2.6 million employees to identify the top 150 companies on this year’s list. Companies were split into four categories: small (10–49 employees), medium (50–499 employees), large (500+ employees), and multinational (at least 1,000 employees and at least three wins on national lists in Europe).
So what exactly sets Europe's Best Workplaces apart from the rest?
It is their extraordinary efforts in areas such as flexibility, fair compensation, and employee well-being. These initiatives translate into remarkable job performance, with an impressive 91% of employees at the Best Workplaces in Europe™ saying people go the extra mile for their organizations, compared to only 58% at typical companies.
Flexibility and Trust
A defining feature of the 2023 Best Workplaces in Europe is their embrace of flexible work arrangements. A whopping 83% of employees reported benefiting from special and unique benefits, a remarkable 18 percentage points higher than their counterparts at other workplaces participating in this year's survey. Some organizations, like Amgen and baseVISION AG, have even implemented innovative policies, such as monthly office closures and companywide time off, to encourage employees to pursue personal interests and spend time with family and friends.
Amgen for example, launched a hybrid working model called FlexSpace. FlexSpace means virtual first and purposeful presence in the office. With a culture rooted in trust, responsibility and accountability, this provides their staff members the flexibility they need to strive at work and at home creating a culture of Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging.
Many of the 150 winning workplaces have also adopted hybrid and remote work arrangements to provide greater flexibility to their people, emphasizing trust in their employees to manage their time effectively. And when employees feel trusted, they also have more faith in their managers. 86% of employees in winning organizations believe that management excels in assigning and coordinating tasks, compared to a mere 71% at other workplaces.
Building Connection and a Sense of Belonging
While flexibility is highly valued, European workers also cherish in-person interactions with their colleagues.
With people and teams increasingly working asynchronous (different locations, at different times) collaboration is essential. And in order to collaborate effectively, it is important to get to know your colleagues, which many people enjoy doing in person. Organizations like CSP AG and Bacardi have gone the extra mile to foster these connections, organizing team-building events, sporting competitions, and wellness activities. These activities are not only a nice benefit but even more so help foster a sense of camaraderie, belonging and pride.
Bacardi cultivates a sense of community, organizing team-building activities, volunteering opportunities, and social events that strengthen relationships and create lasting connections among employees.
At Stryker, they have nine employee resource groups, or ERGs for short, playing an active role in advancing the commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion by providing a platform for employees to connect, support each other, and advocate their needs within the workplace. Each year they seek employee feedback through our annual employee engagement survey and drive many initiatives to promote a culture of inclusion and create awareness on DE&I e.g., by encouraging our leaders and employees to attend training on unconscious bias.
The data shows camaraderie between colleagues pays off. At the Best Workplaces in Europe™, 90% of employees say they look forward to going to work and 93% agree that their colleagues genuinely care about one another. In a 2021 benchmark survey of global employees, only 57% of workers said people at their company are caring.
Prioritizing Employee Well-Being
By striking the right balance between flexibility and connection, the Best Workplaces in Europe™ are able to offer higher levels of well-being for their employees. DHL Express, the No. 1 in the multinational category, uses company events like the DHL EuroCup to foster relationships between employees and promote well-being. The EuroCup brings together thousands of employees to participate in four days of sports competition and well-being activities, including yoga, sound meditation and kayaking. Employees can hear from inspiring speakers and connect with sponsors like the Premier League football club Manchester United. These events reinforce a commitment to employee well-being and shared company values by bringing employees together to learn and celebrate shared goals.
Some of the Best Workplaces in Europe focus on professional development and financial well-being. At Easi, No. 3 in the medium category, employees are encouraged to participate in coaching and training from their first day on the job. The company has a strong commitment to develop and promote from within.
Other companies are focused on financial well-being for their people, a need that has been highlighted amid rising inflation and economic anxiety in the region. AbbVie, the No. 2 in the multinational category, expanded financial health resources for its people in 2022 and 2023. Programs offer education about personal finance, tips on using AbbVie’s financial tools, and other resources to provide clarity and support.
And last but not least, Best Workplaces™ in Europe are committed to employee well-being by providing a physically and psychologically safe workplace, encouraging to balance work and personal life effectively. Cembra, for instance, actively create an environment that supports both women and men with balancing family and career. Part-time work, even in management positions, is normal. And with the option to work up to 60% from home, they offer even more flexibility. And there is more: Up to six months maternity leave, child allowance, which they top up to 3,000 francs a year.
The result of these efforts can be measured in multiple ways. At Europe's Best Workplaces, 88% of employees report a psychologically and emotionally healthy workplace, 14 percentage points more than for employees at other workplaces surveyed. When compared to the global average, the gap is even larger. Only 55% of employees at a typical company reported a psychologically and emotionally healthy workplace, revealing the huge benefit to workers of having their employer on the Best Workplaces in Europe list.
Workers at the best workplaces are more likely to have flexibility, meaningful connections with coworkers, and a healthy work environment. In return, those experiences inspire workers to do great work for their companies.
Join the Best: How to Make the List
Think your company deserves special recognition? Get started here to become eligible for next year’s Best Workplaces™ honors and be part of a community that prioritizes flexibility, meaningful connections, and a healthy work environment. Your journey to workplace excellence starts here.
Europe-wide reach also for Swiss organizations
150 organizations were recognized in their respective size categories, including 4 Swiss companies and 13 multinationals with location in Switzerland.
With Sensirion AG and Cembra, two Swiss organizations make it onto the List of the Best Workplaces in Europe in the large category (500+ employees), Sensirion AG even making the top 10 of the ranking. CPS AG, number 2 of this year's national ranking in their size category, reaches rank 11 in the medium category (50-499 employees). In the small category (10-49 employees) baseVISION AG is part of the ranking.
In the category of the 25 best multinational companies in Europe, thirteen organizations with a Swiss subsidiary are represented: DHL Express (#1) Abbvie (#2), Hilton (#3), Cisco (#4), Salesforce (#5), Stryker (#6), Teleperformance (#7), Hilti (#8), Novo Nordisk (#10), SC Johnson (#11), Sopra Steria (#16), Amgen (#17) and Bacardi (#18).
Check out the complete ranking and aspire to join the best!
